Refrigeration device and refrigerant circuit for a refrigeration device

Abstract

A refrigerant circuit for a refrigeration device comprises an evaporator with an inlet for feeding in refrigerant and an outlet for discharging the refrigerant, a feed line connected to the inlet of the evaporator, a suction pipe connected to the outlet of the evaporator and thermally conductively connected to the feed line in a heat exchanger portion, and a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the evaporator. In the heat exchanger portion, the suction pipe has a measuring portion in which the suction pipe runs at a distance from the feed line, wherein the temperature sensor is thermally conductively fastened to the measuring portion.

Description

[0001] Refrigeration device and refrigerant circuit for a refrigeration device

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present invention relates to a refrigeration appliance, in particular a household refrigeration appliance such as a refrigerator, a freezer or a freezer chest or a fridge-freezer combination, and a refrigerant circuit for a refrigeration appliance.

[0004] STATE OF THE ART

[0005] In refrigeration devices, heat is extracted from a heat source using a refrigerant circuit and transferred to a heat sink. Typically, a refrigerant circulates through an evaporator and a condenser, with the refrigerant evaporating in the evaporator while absorbing heat and condensing in the condenser while releasing heat. An expansion valve can be used to expand the refrigerant before entering the evaporator. This valve is typically operated with a so-called superheat control. This means that a temperature difference between the temperature of the evaporated refrigerant after leaving the evaporator and a saturation temperature in the evaporator is used to control the flow of refrigerant through the expansion valve.However, such superheat control is difficult to implement, particularly in household refrigeration appliances, due to the intermittent operation of the refrigerant circuit, as the temperature at the evaporator outlet is subject to strong fluctuations.

[0006] WO 2021 / 259630 A1 describes a household refrigeration appliance with a suction pipe heat exchanger in which a suction pipe coming from an evaporator assembly and a supply line are thermally coupled, wherein a temperature is determined at each of the inlets and outlets of the suction pipe heat exchanger in order to determine mass flows through the suction pipe and the supply line.

[0007] A refrigerant circuit with expansion valves is described, for example, in KR 2003-0073944 A. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide improved solutions for determining a temperature of a refrigerant exiting from an evaporator in a refrigerant circuit.

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention by a refrigerant circuit having the features of claim 1 and by a refrigeration device having the features of claim 14.

[0010] According to a first aspect of the invention, a refrigerant circuit for a refrigeration device comprises an evaporator with an inlet for supplying refrigerant and an outlet for discharging the refrigerant, a supply line connected to the inlet of the evaporator, a suction pipe connected to the outlet of the evaporator, which suction pipe is thermally conductively connected to the supply line in a heat exchanger section, and a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the evaporator. In the heat exchanger section, the suction pipe has a measuring section in which the suction pipe runs at a distance from the supply line, wherein the temperature sensor is thermally conductively attached to the measuring section.

[0011] When the expansion valve is operated with a superheat control, a temperature can be measured from which the temperature of the gaseous refrigerant at the evaporator outlet can be reliably determined without interference from temperature fluctuations at the evaporator outlet.

[0012] The invention can preferably be used in refrigeration circuits with compressors with variably adjustable volume flow.

[0013] According to a second aspect of the invention, a refrigeration appliance, in particular a household refrigeration appliance, comprises a storage compartment for receiving refrigerated goods and a refrigerant circuit according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the evaporator is thermally coupled to the storage compartment in order to extract heat therefrom by evaporating refrigerant.

[0014] One idea underlying the invention is to detect the temperature of the gaseous refrigerant escaping from the evaporator not immediately after the evaporator, but in the region of an intake manifold heat exchanger. The intake manifold heat exchanger, also referred to herein as the heat exchanger section, is formed by the intake manifold and the supply line being thermally conductively connected, e.g. soldered to one another. Generally, the intake manifold and supply line are in thermally conductive contact in the heat exchanger section. According to the invention, a measuring section is provided within this heat exchanger section, which is formed by a pipe section of the intake manifold that is spaced apart from, and therefore not in direct thermally conductive contact with, the supply line. A temperature sensor is attached to this measuring section to detect the temperature of the refrigerant.With respect to a flow direction of the refrigerant in the suction pipe, the suction pipe thus has a pipe section upstream and preferably also downstream of the measuring section, which is thermally conductively connected to the supply line, e.g. rests against it.

[0015] As warm refrigerant from a compressor or condenser flows through the supply line, the refrigerant flowing in the suction pipe from the evaporator is heated in the section of the suction pipe located upstream of the measuring section. This smooths out temperature fluctuations in the refrigerant exiting the compressor, facilitating the use of the temperatures measured by the temperature sensor for control and regulation purposes.

[0016] By positioning the measuring section at a distance from the supply line, the supply line and the measuring section are essentially thermally separated. This improves the accuracy with which the temperature sensor detects the temperature.

[0017] Advantageous embodiments and further developments arise from the subclaims which refer back to the independent claims in conjunction with the description.

[0018] According to some embodiments, the refrigeration appliance can be a household refrigeration appliance, such as a refrigerator, a freezer or chest freezer, or a fridge-freezer combination. According to some embodiments, the refrigerant circuit can additionally comprise a compressor and a condenser, wherein the intake pipe is connected to a suction port of the compressor and the supply line is connected to an outlet of the condenser, wherein an inlet of the condenser is connected to a pressure port of the compressor.

[0019] According to some embodiments, it can be provided that the measuring section is separated from the supply line by a spacer. The spacer can, for example, be formed by a plate-shaped part inserted between the supply line and the measuring section, which has an engagement section with a groove at each of its ends, into which the suction pipe and the supply line are each inserted. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to form the spacer by a molded part, e.g. made of a foam material such as EPS or the like, in which a first groove and a second groove running at a distance from the first groove are formed, wherein the supply line is received in the first groove and the measuring section of the suction pipe is received in the second groove. The spacer can, for example, be formed from a thermally insulating material, such as plastic.The use of a spacer offers the advantage that a process-reliable separation of the measuring section and the supply line is achieved and that a predefined distance between the measuring section and the supply line can be easily adjusted.

[0020] According to some embodiments, the measuring section can be formed at a bend in the intake manifold. The bend can, for example, be substantially U-shaped. Generally, the bend can have two connecting sections spaced apart along the supply line, extending transversely to the supply line and connected to the measuring section, which can, for example, run parallel to the supply line. A bend in the intake manifold can advantageously be easily manufactured.

[0021] According to some embodiments, it can be provided that the supply line is formed as a bend around the measuring section of the intake pipe. The bend can, for example, be substantially curved. When using a spacer, the spacer can be matched to a curved guide of the supply line and / or have a device for positioning and fastening the temperature sensor. According to some embodiments, it can be provided that the measuring section is formed on a turn of the intake pipe. Accordingly, the intake pipe can run in a longitudinal section which contains the measuring section, extending once around its axis, wherein the axis extends perpendicular to the supply line. In this way, a region of the supply line within the heat exchanger section which is not in contact with the intake pipe can be shortened, which is advantageous for the heat transfer to the refrigerant flowing in the intake pipe.

[0022] The diameter of the supply line can be smaller than the diameter of the suction pipe. This provides the option of an additional pressure drop upstream of the expansion valve.

[0023] According to some embodiments, the measuring section may extend linearly. This facilitates the attachment of the temperature sensor to the intake manifold.

[0024] According to some embodiments, the measuring section can be arranged at a distance from the supply line that lies in a range between 2 mm and 20 mm, in particular between 2 mm and 10 mm. Thus, despite the separation of the intake manifold from the supply line in the region of the measuring section, a very compact design of the intake manifold heat exchanger can be realized. Furthermore, the spacing within the specified distance range achieves reliable thermal separation between the measuring section and the supply line.

[0025] According to some embodiments, the measuring section, measured along the intake pipe, can be arranged at a distance in a range between 50 mm and 500 mm from the evaporator outlet. This means that the length of the intake pipe from the evaporator outlet to the measuring point can be in a range between 50 mm and 500 mm. This distance imparts energy to the suction gas, increasing the measured value of the temperature sensor compared to the superheat temperature directly at the evaporator outlet. The measured value of the temperature sensor is very stable and allows for the control of a complete filling of the evaporator with wet steam.

[0026] According to some embodiments, the refrigerant circuit may include an expansion valve arranged in the supply line between the heat exchanger section and an inlet of the evaporator, and controllable based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. The expansion valve may generally be configured to expand the refrigerant flowing in the supply line before it enters the evaporator. Furthermore, the expansion valve may be configured to vary a mass flow or flow rate of the refrigerant. The temperature detected by the temperature sensor may be used to control the expansion valve, e.g., to vary the flow rate of the refrigerant.Since the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is subject to less severe fluctuations even in the event of temperature fluctuations immediately at the evaporator outlet due to the arrangement of the temperature sensor at the measuring section within the heat exchanger section, control of the expansion valve is simplified by taking into account the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

[0027] According to some embodiments, the expansion valve can be controlled based on a temperature difference between the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and a saturation temperature in the evaporator. For example, the saturation temperature in the evaporator can be detected using another temperature sensor, or the saturation temperature can be determined based on a pressure detected in the evaporator.

[0028] According to some embodiments, the expansion valve can be configured to increase the refrigerant flow rate with increasing temperature difference and to decrease it with decreasing temperature difference. An increasing temperature difference means that the refrigerant in the evaporator absorbs a large amount of heat and is thus heated significantly. To ensure sufficient heat dissipation in the evaporator, the refrigerant mass flow supplied to the evaporator is increased in response to an increasing temperature difference. Analogously, a small temperature difference indicates that little heat is being supplied to the evaporator, whereupon the expansion valve reduces the refrigerant supply to the evaporator.To control the expansion valve to implement this flow variation based on the temperature difference, the placement of the temperature sensor in the measuring section of the intake manifold is particularly advantageous. While the temperature measured there reliably follows the temperature gradient of the refrigerant at the evaporator outlet, fluctuations in the refrigerant temperature, which can occur, for example, during intermittent operation of the refrigerant circuit, are mitigated. This allows for more stable control of the expansion valve.

[0029] According to some embodiments, the expansion valve may be an electronic expansion valve.

[0030] According to some embodiments, the temperature sensor may be a PTC sensor, an NTC sensor or a thermocouple.

[0031] According to some embodiments, the temperature sensor may be attached to the measuring section of the intake manifold by means of a fastening element, such as a clamp, adhesive tape, or the like. This facilitates installation and simultaneously improves the thermally conductive contact between the intake manifold and the temperature sensor.

[0032] According to some embodiments, the refrigeration device may comprise an insulating material that thermally insulates the storage compartment, wherein at least a region of the heat exchanger section comprising the measuring section of the suction pipe is surrounded by the insulating material. For example, a container defining the storage compartment may be surrounded by a thermally insulating foam material. A portion of the suction pipe heat exchanger, in particular the portion containing the measuring section of the suction pipe, may extend within the insulating material. This offers the advantage that the thermal insulation effect of the insulating material, which is preferably also present between the measuring section and the supply line, further improves thermal decoupling of the measuring section from the supply line.

[0033] The features and advantages disclosed herein in connection with one aspect of the invention are also disclosed for the other aspect and vice versa.

[0034] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The invention is explained below with reference to the figures of the drawings. Figures show: Figure 1 shows a simplified, schematic perspective view of a refrigeration device according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0036] Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a refrigeration device with a refrigerant circuit according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0037] Fig. 3 is a detailed view of a heat exchanger section of a refrigerant circuit according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0038] Fig. 4 is a detailed view of a heat exchanger section of a refrigerant circuit according to a further embodiment of the invention; and

[0039] Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a fixing of a temperature sensor to a suction pipe of a refrigerant circuit according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0040] In the figures, the same reference symbols denote identical or functionally identical components, unless otherwise stated.

[0041] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0042] Fig. 1 shows an example of a refrigeration appliance 200 in the form of a refrigerator. However, the invention is not limited thereto, but can be used in refrigeration appliances generally, but in particular in household refrigeration appliances such as refrigerators, freezers or chest freezers, or fridge-freezer combinations.

[0043] As shown schematically in Fig. 1, the refrigeration appliance 200 can have a body 205 in which a storage compartment 210 is formed for receiving refrigerated goods, such as food, drinks, medicines or the like. The storage compartment 210 can be delimited or defined, for example, by an inner container 211, which is optionally surrounded by thermal insulation (not shown), in particular made of insulating foam. The body 205 further has an access opening 206 through which the storage compartment 210 is accessible. As shown by way of example in Fig. 1, a door 215 can be hinged to the body 210 and can be moved between a closed position, in which it covers the access opening 206, and an open position, in which it at least partially exposes the access opening 206.

[0044] As schematically illustrated in Fig. 2, the refrigeration device 200 has a refrigerant circuit 100. The refrigerant circuit 100 is designed to extract heat from the storage compartment 210 by evaporating refrigerant and to release heat to the environment by condensing refrigerant. To extract heat from the storage compartment 210, the refrigerant circuit 100 has an evaporator 2 that is thermally coupled to the storage compartment 210. As shown in Fig. 2, the refrigerant circuit 100 can further comprise a compressor 1 and an evaporator 3, as well as optionally an expansion valve 6. Furthermore, the refrigerant circuit 100 comprises a measuring and control system with a first temperature sensor 7, an optional further sensor 8, and an optional control device 9.

[0045] As shown schematically in Fig. 2, refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator 2 at an inlet 21 via a supply line 5. The refrigerant supplied to the evaporator 2 is discharged from the evaporator via an outlet 22, to which a suction pipe 4 is connected. As shown in Fig. 2, the suction pipe 4 can be connected to a suction inlet 11 of the compressor 1. An inlet 31 of the condenser 3 is further connected to a pressure outlet of the compressor 1, and an outlet of the condenser 3 is connected to the inlet 21 of the evaporator 2 via the supply line 5. The expansion valve 6 is arranged in the supply line 5. Liquid refrigerant flows in the supply line 5, expands in the expansion valve 6 and is supplied to the evaporator 2, where it evaporates while absorbing heat. The compressor 1 sucks in the evaporated, gaseous refrigerant via the suction line orThe refrigerant enters the intake manifold 4, compresses it, and transports it to the condenser, where it condenses, releasing heat to the environment. The liquid refrigerant, under the pressure generated by the compressor 1, is then fed back to the evaporator 2 via the supply line 5 and the expansion valve 6.

[0046] As shown schematically in Fig. 2, the intake manifold 4 and the supply line 5 are combined over part of their length to form an intake manifold heat exchanger or heat exchanger section 45. In the heat exchanger section 45, the intake manifold 4 and the supply line 5 are in thermally conductive contact with one another, at least in sections. For example, the intake manifold 4 and the supply line can rest against one another in the heat exchanger section 5. As shown only schematically in Fig. 2 and will be explained in more detail below with reference to Figs. 3 and 4, the intake manifold 4 in the heat exchanger section 45 has a measuring section 41 in which the intake manifold 4 runs at a distance from the supply line 5.For example, it can be provided that the suction pipe 4 in the heat exchanger section 45 has a first pipe section 41A, which is located upstream of the measuring section 41 with respect to a flow direction of the refrigerant in the suction pipe 4 and is in contact with the supply line 5, and a second pipe section 41B, which is located downstream of the measuring section 41 with respect to the flow direction of the refrigerant in the suction pipe 4 and is in contact with the supply line 5, while the measuring section 41 itself is not in direct contact with the supply line 5, but runs separately from it.

[0047] 3 and 4 schematically and purely by way of example, the measuring section 41 can be a pipe section running linearly, e.g., parallel to the supply line 5. Fig. 3 shows, by way of example, that the measuring section 41 can be formed at a bend 42 of the intake pipe 4. In Fig. 3, a substantially U-shaped bend is shown purely by way of example. Alternatively, the measuring section 41 can also be formed at a turn 43 of the intake pipe 4, as shown in Fig. 4 purely by way of example and only schematically. In general, the measuring section 41 is arranged at a distance from the supply line 5. A distance X of the measuring section 41 from the supply line 5 can, for example, be in a range between 2 mm and 20 mm, in particular between 2 mm and 10 mm. Optionally, it can be provided that at least one region of the heat exchanger section 45 containing the measuring section 41 of the intake pipe 4 is surrounded by the thermal insulation of the storage compartment 210.In this case, the distance X between the measuring section 41 and the supply line 5 can be relatively small, e.g., in a range between 2 mm and 8 mm. However, even in this case, larger distances X between the measuring section 41 and the supply line 5 are not excluded.

[0048] In the heat exchanger section 45, heat transfer takes place between the refrigerant flowing in the intake pipe 4 and the refrigerant flowing in the supply line 5. The refrigerant flowing in the supply line 5, which comes from the condenser 3, has a higher temperature than the refrigerant coming from the evaporator 2 and flowing in the intake pipe 4. Before the refrigerant flowing in the intake pipe 4 reaches the measuring section 41, it is thus heated in the first pipe section 41A of the intake pipe 4. The measuring section 41 can, for example, be arranged at a distance in a range between 50 mm and 500 mm from the outlet 21 of the evaporator 2, measured along the intake pipe 5.

[0049] As is also shown by way of example in Fig. 3, the measuring section 41 can be separated from the supply line 5 by a spacer 44. As shown by way of example in Fig. 3, the spacer 44 can have, for example, a plate 44A which extends between the measuring section 41 and the supply line 5. A first receptacle 44B for fixing the supply line 5 can be formed at a first end of the plate 44A, and a second receptacle 44C for fixing the suction pipe 4 can be formed at a second end of the plate 44A. The first receptacle 44B can be designed, for example, as a locking groove or, as shown by way of example in Fig. 3, as a foldable section which can be locked to the plate 44A and which can be folded over such that it encloses the supply line 5 and can be locked to the plate. The second receptacle 44C can be designed, for example, as an elastic, bow-shaped section into which the suction pipe 5, here together with the temperature sensor 7, can be snapped.

[0050] The first temperature sensor 7 can be, for example, a PTC sensor, an NTC sensor, or a thermocouple. Generally, the first temperature sensor 7 is thermally conductively connected to the measuring section 41 of the intake manifold 4 in order to detect the temperature of the refrigerant. For this purpose, the temperature sensor 7 is attached to the outer circumference of the measuring section 41. For example, the temperature sensor 7 can be attached to the measuring section 41 of the intake manifold by means of a fastening element 71. An adhesive tape, for example, can serve as the fastening element 71, as is shown schematically and by way of example in Fig. 4. The fastening element 71 can also be part of the optional spacer 44, e.g. by the second receptacle 44C encompassing both the temperature sensor 7 and the measuring section 41, as is shown by way of example in Fig. 3. Furthermore, it is also conceivable to use a clamp as the fastening element 71, as is shown schematically and purely by way of example in Fig. 7.View A in Fig. 5 shows an example of an elastic clamp with a receiving area 71 A, B each for the measuring section 41 and the temperature sensor 7, wherein the measuring section 41 and the temperature sensor 7 are restrained in the respective receiving area 71 A and the receiving area are essentially stationary relative to one another. View B in Fig. 5 shows an example of a clamp in which the temperature sensor 7 is received, e.g. latched, in a first receiving area 71 A and in which a second receiving area 71 B is rotatably connected to the first receiving area 71 B via a film hinge, wherein the second receiving area 71 B is pivotable such that the measuring section 41 is received, e.g. latched, in the second receiving area 71 B.

[0051] As already mentioned above, an additional sensor 8 can optionally be provided, e.g., in the form of a second temperature sensor 8 or a pressure sensor. This sensor 8 is arranged such that it can detect the saturation temperature or the saturation pressure in the evaporator 2.

[0052] The expansion valve 6, as mentioned above, is arranged in the supply line 5, specifically between the inlet 21 of the evaporator 2 and the heat exchanger section 45, as shown schematically in Fig. 2. The expansion valve 6 is designed to expand the refrigerant flowing in the supply line before it enters the evaporator. Furthermore, the expansion valve can be designed to vary the mass flow or flow rate of the refrigerant. The expansion valve 6 can be, for example, an electronic expansion valve.

[0053] The control device 9, shown only schematically as a block in Fig. 2, can be, for example, an electronic control device. For example, the control device 9 can have a processor, e.g., in the form of a CPU, an FPGA, an ASIC, or the like, and a data memory, in particular a non-volatile data memory, such as a flash memory, an SD memory, an EEPROM, or the like. Software can be stored in the data memory, which is executable by the processor and contains control commands that cause the processor to generate output signals based on input signals.

[0054] As schematically shown in Fig. 2, the control device 9 can be connected in a signal-conducting manner, e.g. wired or wirelessly, to the first temperature sensor 7, optionally to the second sensor 8 and to the expansion valve 6. The control device 9 can further be designed to output control signals to the expansion valve 6, which cause the valve to change the flow of refrigerant. For example, the control device 6 can be designed to control the expansion valve 6 based on the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor 7. Optionally, this can include determining a temperature difference between the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 7 and a saturation temperature in the evaporator 2. For this purpose, the control device 9 can calculate the temperature difference, e.g. from the signal of the second sensor 8 and the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor 7.If the second sensor 8 is a pressure sensor, the control device 9 can first determine the saturation temperature based on the measured pressure, assuming that the determined pressure corresponds to the saturation pressure. Depending on the determined temperature difference, the control device 9 can output a control signal to the expansion valve 6 to cause it to increase or decrease the refrigerant flow. For example, the control device 6 can be configured to cause the expansion valve 6 to increase the refrigerant flow as the temperature difference increases and to decrease it as the temperature difference decreases.

[0055] The temperature determined in the measuring section 41 of the intake manifold 4 can thus be used, for example, to control the expansion valve 6. However, the invention is not limited to this. In general, it is an advantage of the invention that a temperature of the refrigerant can be determined in the measuring section 41 which, in its temporal course, follows the changes in the temperature of the refrigerant at the outlet 22 of the evaporator 2, but whose changes are less significant because, before the temperature is measured, heat exchange takes place between the refrigerant in the intake manifold 4 and the refrigerant in the supply line 5 within the heat exchanger section 45. This facilitates the use of the temperature measured in the measuring section 41 as a controlled variable, e.g. in combination with other temperature values ​​and in combination with various manipulated variables.

[0056] Although the present invention has been explained above using exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto but can be modified in a variety of ways. In particular, combinations of the above embodiments are also conceivable. REFERENCE SIGNS

[0057] 1 compressor

[0058] 2 evaporators

[0059] 3 condensers

[0060] 4 intake manifold

[0061] 5 Supply line

[0062] 6 Expansion valve

[0063] 7 first temperature sensor

[0064] 8 second sensor

[0065] 9 Control device

[0066] 11 Compressor suction connection

[0067] 12 Compressor pressure connection

[0068] 21 Evaporator inlet

[0069] 22 Evaporator outlet

[0070] 31 Condenser inlet

[0071] 32 Condenser outlet

[0072] 41 Measuring section of the intake manifold

[0073] 41A first pipe section of the intake manifold

[0074] 41 B second pipe section of the intake manifold

[0075] 42 Bending of the intake manifold

[0076] 43 winding of the intake manifold

[0077] 44 spacers

[0078] 44 A plate

[0079] 44B first recording

[0080] 44C second shot

[0081] 45 Heat exchanger section / intake manifold heat exchanger

[0082] 71 Fastening element

[0083] 71 A first recording area

[0084] 71 B second recording area

[0085] 100 Refrigerant circuit

[0086] 200 Refrigeration appliance 205 Body

[0087] 206 Access opening

[0088] 210 storage compartment

[0089] 211 inner container

[0090] 215 Door

[0091] X distance

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Refrigerant circuit (100) for a refrigeration appliance (200), in particular for a household refrigeration appliance, comprising: an evaporator (2) with an inlet (21) for supplying refrigerant and an outlet (22) for discharging the refrigerant; a supply line (5) connected to the inlet (21) of the evaporator (2); a suction pipe (4) connected to the outlet (22) of the evaporator (2) and thermally conductively connected to the supply line (5) in a heat exchanger section (45); and a temperature sensor (7) for detecting a temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the evaporator (2); characterized in that in the heat exchanger section (45), the suction pipe (4) has a measuring section (41) in which the suction pipe (4) runs at a distance from the supply line (5), and the temperature sensor (7) is thermally conductively attached to the measuring section (41).

2. Refrigerant circuit (100) according to claim 1, wherein the measuring section (41) is separated from the supply line (5) by a spacer (44).

3. Refrigerant circuit (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the measuring section (41) is formed on a bend (42) of the suction pipe (4).

4. Refrigerant circuit (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the measuring section (41) is formed on a turn (43) of the suction pipe (4).

5. Refrigerant circuit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the measuring section (41) extends linearly.

6. Refrigerant circuit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the measuring section (41) is arranged at a distance (X) from the supply line (5) which is in a range between 2 mm and 20 mm.

7. Refrigerant circuit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the measuring section (41), measured along the suction pipe (5), is arranged at a distance in a range between 50 mm and 500 mm from the outlet (21) of the evaporator (2).

8. Refrigerant circuit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, additionally comprising: an expansion valve (6) which is arranged in the supply line (5) between the heat exchanger section (45) and an inlet (21) of the evaporator (2) and is controllable based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor (7).

9. Refrigerant circuit (100) according to claim 8, wherein the expansion valve (6) is controllable based on a temperature difference between the temperature detected by the temperature sensor (7) and a saturation temperature in the evaporator (2).

10. Refrigerant circuit (100) according to claim 9, wherein the expansion valve (6) is designed to increase a refrigerant flow with increasing temperature difference and to decrease it with decreasing temperature difference.

11. Refrigerant circuit (100) according to one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the expansion valve (6) is an electronic expansion valve.

12. Refrigerant circuit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the temperature sensor (7) is a PTC sensor, an NTC sensor or a thermocouple.

13. Refrigerant circuit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the temperature sensor (7) is fixed by means of a fastening element (71), such as a clamp (71), adhesive tape or the like, is attached to the measuring section (41) of the suction pipe.

14. Refrigeration appliance (200), in particular a household refrigeration appliance, comprising: a storage compartment (210) for receiving refrigerated goods; and a refrigerant circuit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the evaporator (2) is thermally coupled to the storage compartment (210) in order to extract heat therefrom by evaporating refrigerant.

15. Refrigeration device (200) according to claim 14, additionally comprising: an insulating material thermally insulating the storage compartment (210), wherein at least one region of the heat exchanger section (45) comprising the measuring section (41) of the suction pipe (4) is surrounded by the insulating material.

Images